| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. | 1The Philistines fought against Israel, and Israel's men fled from them and were killed on Mount Gilboa. |
| 2And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. | 2The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons and killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. |
| 3The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. | 3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers found him and severely wounded him. |
| 4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. | 4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!" But his armor-bearer wouldn't do it because he was terrified. Then Saul took his sword and fell on it. |
| 5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died. | 5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died. |
| 6Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. | 6So Saul and his three sons died--his whole house died together. |
| 7And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them. | 7When all the men of Israel in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. So the Philistines came and settled in them. |
| 8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. | 8The next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons dead on Mount Gilboa. |
| 9And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. | 9They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to spread the good news to their idols and their people. |
| 10And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. | 10Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his skull in the temple of Dagon. |
| 11But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, | 11When all Jabesh-gilead heard of everything the Philistines had done to Saul, |
| 12all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days. | 12all their brave men set out and retrieved the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days. |
| 13So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. | 13Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD because he did not keep the LORD's word. He even consulted a medium for guidance, |
| 14He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. | 14but he did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. |
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